HITTISAU, Austria—Pita Taufatofua was not the most famous or the most successful athlete in the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. He was the most shirtless. The previously unknown flag-bearer from Tonga marched into the world’s most-watched parade slathered with coconut oil and walked out a global celebrity.

The world may see the strapping taekwondoka again sooner than anybody expected—this time with a whole lot more clothing.